Scandals and indictments: not just for Republicans any more...

By R. Neal / October 27, 2005

Posted by R. Neal

EX-Ala. Governor, Hospital Exec Indicted:

Federal prosecutors in Alabama have re-indicted two of the state's most recent high-profile defendants, former Gov. Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth Corp. founder Richard Scrushy.

The indictments announced Wednesday, which included two other former state officials, accuse the men of belonging to what the government called a "widespread racketeering conspiracy."

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Siegelman, who was governor from 1999 to 2003, was charged with racketeering, fraud, bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice. The former governor was expected to turn himself in later this week.

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Siegelman, a Democrat, called the probe a political witch hunt by Republican prosecutors, saying the charges were made by "obsessed government officials who spent millions in tax dollars in a pathetic attempt to control the election for governor."

According to the article, Siegelman is accused of accepting two $500,000 bribes "disguised payments" in exchange for appointing Scrushy to a state board which decides on hospital expansions. But here's the best part:

The charges come five months after Scrushy was acquitted of masterminding a $2.7 billion accounting fraud at HealthSouth. They also may complicate Siegelman's campaign to reclaim the governorship next year.

Gee, you think?

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